Chelsea snatch Palmer from Charlton

The 16-year-old made his debut for the Blues on Saturday, featuring in the Under 18’s defeat to Manchester United.

Palmer, who has represented England Under 17’s, was highly-rated at the Valley, with his departure understood to have angered the club’s academy staff. Under the recently-introduced Elite Player Performance Plan guidelines, clubs that have been graded as having category one academies can take their pick of young players at sides that have a lower rating. Suitors, though, would have to pay a relatively low fee to land the players.

And Chelsea, who have a category one grading, have used their rules to the advantage to snatch Palmer away from Charlton, who are rated as having a category two academy.

What can Kasey Palmer do? :

Two footed, lovely balance and with the ability to glide past opponents, Kasey Palmer is a bright English talent.

Playing in an advanced midfield position for Charlton U18’s this season, he has been among the stars of a talented Academy group, also including Gus Poyet’s son, Diego

When scouts flocked to The Valley to watch Poyet junior in the FA Youth Cup tie against Chelsea this season, it was Palmer who caught their eye instead. Charlton lost 3-2 after extra time with goals from Tom Derry and Oliver Muldoon, but Palmer shone.

Whether he would have been best advised to stay at Charlton where the route into the first team is an easier path (18-year-old Callum Harriot recently became the latest to make the first team at The Valley) is another debate.

Working under Paul Hart and Steve Avory at Charlton, 16-year-old Palmer has improved as a player and recently scored a spectacular long-range goal at Millwall in a 2-1 win for the Charlton U18 team.